Chapter 6 - Open Roads to Anywhere

[ateno]

"Well Can I at least get some sleep and a bath first? Ha ha. Also we need to buy some trail food.

Doos

[redwarrior]

William That sounds like a solid plan. I still would recommend not tipping our hand to Adler. He might know what we know, he might not.


If there’s any chance he’s underestimated us, I’d like to encourage that. But I’m willing to go with the majority

[Thumper]

DT:
”Mr Fox, you’ve been fair with us. Most of us however feel we can’t do what we need to do tied down as station guards. There are several loose ends from our hunting down the Shepard gang that we feel we need to resolve. We’re not entirely through with trying to help the Mrs Weber, there are more rustlers my friends have a resolve to stop, and we feel an obligation to figure out what is going on with the June 7th stage robbery. You did pay us to make the road safe. And we view this robbery to be an outstanding obligation.

We visited the site and found this (he shows the card). Does this mean anything to you?

What specifics can you and Mr Holtzclaw tell us about the June 7th robbery. Besides one extra man, what else is there that we need to know?



———————-
That Adler tale ain’t mine to tell. How you handle that is all y’all’s affair, and you get decide what to do with that information.

So, are we agreed that we’ll set out Tuesday after the horse auction? That gives us all day tomorrow (Monday) to sell the extra guns and to get ready?”

[Rex]

"So, are we agreed that we’ll set out Tuesday after the horse auction? That gives us all day tomorrow (Monday) to sell the extra guns and to get ready?”

Charlie

"Agreed."

[redwarrior]

William Sounds good to me.

[jemmus]

FYI, today is Thursday, August 9. To confirm, yes, the horse auction is every Tuesday morning.

Andreas signs on as a Wells Fargo camp guard for a two-week period.

Fox replies to DT, The reports on that robbery were different than for the others. There were four men, wearin bandanas over their faces. People said that the leader was cheerful and almost friendly-- kind of a character or show-off even. The driver said that he acted like it was almost a big game to him. The ladies were allowed to keep their jewelry and the men could keep their watches. The took the men's money, but staff said mainly it was the cargo they were after. They got $135 of the company's money, but left the U.S. mail alone. There was no shootin and no one was hurt. People speculate that it was Sam Bass and his gang. I guess you read in the papers that Bass was captured tryin to rob a train south of Waco. We were followin his and his boys' trials closely, but they didn't confess to that robbery outside of Fredericksburg. It seems like the prosecutors had enough bigger crimes to get him on and they didn't want to risk complicatin things and muddyin the trial up with any smaller, less certain crimes. Bass is in the Federal prison in Fort Smith, Arkansas now.

[Thumper]

Ok. Sorry. I was basing my timing on that given in Post #1 of Open Roads to Anywhere thread, as we traveled half a day to the station, tracked the Comanche half a day until dark, camped overnight, then made our way to Austin arriving in the afternoon. According to that post, we started from Fredricksburg on Saturday August 7th.

viewtopic.php?p=758152#p758152

"Intersting Mr Fox. That is very different than the Shepherd's robbery style. And this card means nothing to you? It seems these bandits were trying to send an obvious message to someone who happened along the site.

It seems they targeted primarily Wells Fargo wealth. Can you imagine anybody angry with Wells Fargo? Someone wanting revenge on the company?

Was there anything of interest, besides cash, in the money box they stole? Was there anything unusual of a non-cash nature contained in it?

Was there a description of the four horses?"

Seeing as how it’s Thursday, do we wish to wait in town for the Tuesday horse auction or trade with the horse trader recommended by Fox, Leo Bell? Much better pricing selling at the auction, and we can take our time selling the guns rather than taking the quick offer. We’ve been intentionally trying to wait all along to get the best prices on guns and horses since we’ve been in Fredricksburg.

[jemmus]

My mistake, there was a discrepancy between my game days tracking sheet and what I posted. You're correct, today is Saturday. Which means that the bank is closed until Monday at 9:00 AM.

Holtzclaw says, We appreciate the offer for you to settle for $100 rather than the full $112.50 share of the banknotes, Dr. Crockett. But because of the accounting methods used, it would be difficult to assign the additional funds. And our report has already been submitted to Regional. He writes checks for $22.50 to William, Gideon, DT, Doos and Andreas.

Fox replies to DT, We had to fire a stable master for petty theft. He was ordering more grain feed than was needed and taking home the surplus for his own horses. But I wouldn't at all take him for a man who would commit armed robbery on the open highway. Would you, Doug? Holtzclaw shakes his head. No sir. I imagine dipping into the supplies a little was about as daring as he'd every get.

Fox continues. No, there was nothing special about the contents of the cash box. It just had bills and rolls of coins. Cash for the Fredericksburg office's payroll, cash register, and miscellaneous expenses. We took a change sending it because the later robberies had been on the Burnet road. And because the tiny bank in Fredericksburg was claimin "issues of liquidity." It wasn't releasing cash from wire transfers to it.

I don't remember hearing any descriptions of the robbers' horses, other than the leader was mounted on a fine gelding.

I will say that I think the idea of the robbers being Sam Bass's gang seems far-fetched to me. He operated out of the Denton area north of Dallas, and that's over 200 miles from here.
And he took $60,000 in his first robbery-- more than enough for a lifetime of spending, even livin the highlife. Bass would have no need to risk committing more crimes. And it's been almost two years since his last reported robbery in North Texas. And on top of that, it's said his success around Denton was because as a teenager he drove a delivery wagon to rural farms and ranches. He learned all of the out-of-the-way shortcuts to places in the area. I suppose all of the good hidin places too. Maybe that's why the Rangers never caught him. It would be foolish for a clever outlaw holding the home ground to set out to rob stage coaches down here in South Texas. A day's ride from the Rangers' headquarters in Austin.

But people speculate it was him, because Bass was known to be a... well, cheerful and courteous robber. The crew of the coach said the gang's leader was like that. Friendly, took his hat off to the ladies, like that. The bench guard said that it seemed like it was almost like a fun game to him. But Sam Bass isn't the only man in the State of Texas who has a personality like that, is he?

Gideon goes to the spittoon and quietly expectorates into it. Ah'd say yer dead right about that, Mr. Fox. And ah've heard all kinda tall tales about Sam Bass. Him comin inta a Denton saloon from outa the boonies around closin time and treatin everbody in the house til mornin. Cleanin out a cards table with aces and in tha end givin everybody thar money back, and some extra ta take home fer thar wife, mama er gal. And likin ta make a big show outa it, like he was a prince er a king er President Grant hisself. That card left sayin, "Yeah it was me" sounds about like tha stories they tell about him. Ah've seen some gamblers flush on a run a good luck who do thangs like that. It's almost like it's been too easy fer too long, and they git cocky, and they wave it in everbody's face and challenge em to do somethin about it. That's jist about when they git inta trouble. Kinda like that story about the gingerbread. "Run run run, as fast as ya can. Ya cain't catch me cause ah'm the Gingerbread Man." And that's when the run into Mr. Fox. Well, the fox in the story, not you, Mr. Fox.

Anyway, thank ya, Mr. Fox, Mr. Holtzclaw, and the Well Fargo stage coach company fer the employment and that checks. If y'all come down to the Gay Lady dance hall tonight, let me buy you a drank. Maybe a dance with a fine ole gal too, if ya like. He smiles a joking smile and winks.

Please carefully update the sheets of PCs who got $22.50 checks. They're going to have to pay income tax on that someday. Or deal with the Federal government's marshals.

[Thumper]

DT:
“Well, Mr Fox, Mr Holtzclaw: not a lot to go on. Do you know whether the former stable-master has a fine gelding?

Maybe a gambler trying to mimic Sam Bass? There’s never been a shortage of copy cats. I know you’ll go card sharping, Gidean. It’s a long shot, but maybe a little table talk might loosen some lips.

Say, Mr Fox, there isn’t a way to deposit these checks into your parent bank is there?”

DT will seek to go stable the horses and check in at the Drover. He’d be curious if any of the Rangers they knew were in town this weekend.

[jemmus]

Fox replies, The company doesn't have a bank in Austin, Dr. DT. Just the main one in San Francisco and a branch in St. Louis. The land has been purchased for Houston and Austin branches, but.... Holtzclaw clears his throat. Fox pauses, then continues. There's no Wells Fargo bank in Austin. As yet.

Gideon says, Already, ah'll brang the subject a Mr. Sam Bass up tonight at tha cards table. It's one a tha thangs ya can do ta git tha bettin more lively if people are bein cheap er payin much of thar attention to the gals' show. Everbody starts talkin about Sam Bass and his sixty thousand dollars hidden away somewhar that only he knows. And that ain't in no bank, a course. If y'all want a army of cards players carryin shovels over thar shoulders tomorra, ah can shore enough have em lined up for ya in the mornin. And charge ever one of em $20 a piece jist ta git in on tha chance. Who a y'all's comin with me?

He considers for a second and says to Andreas. Ah'm jist goin ta the Gay Lady tonight ta git tha lay a the land, relax a little bit, and keep mah mind sharp. Ah probably won't lay down a dime on tha cards table. And then back to the ole Drover fer clean sheets and a good night's sleep before Sundy mornin church tomorra. Jist collectin debts and takin care a business in Austin. Know what ah mean? He nudges the quiet German immigrant in the ribs and waits to see his reaction. You know, partner. Miss Inga.... Mum's the word, jist fer a little bit.... He winks hopefully to his trail riding friend.

Then the gambler from Waco on Brazos says, Inga... Them Fredericksburg volk... and them savage Comanches.... All a y'all-- Fredericksburg people is friends with the Comanches! And you growed up thar, Andreas. What if ya could make a deal with them Comanche boys who took off with young Mrs. Sarah Weber? Probably called in Deutsch Vebber? Am ah right, Mr. Andreas? Have ya ever ridden with the Comanches, er any a yer kin? Maybe y'all could figure out a swap a some kind. A good deal fer everbody, and we jist forgit the whole dang thang.

[cybersavant]

Andreas Larson looks at Gideon. "VHe do not know ALL der Comanche. Jhust der vhuns dat live near Fredericksburg. I vhas scout fur der Army, und met many - all zorts. Some nice, odders not so."

[Thumper]

DT will say his good byes and intend to go stable the horses and book rooms at the Drover.

[redwarrior]

William thanks the Wells Fargo men for the check, slips it into his pocket, and heads to the Drover. After checking in, He will ask the clerk for a loan of any newspapers he has on hand for the last few months paying if needed I'm pretty new to the area, and would like to get a sense of who's who in the area.and if the Newspaper office is open on Sundays. Being Saturday evening, I'm assuming the newspaper office is closed until Monday

Over dinner, and later in his room, he will go over whatever papers he can get, looking for mentions of Wells Fargo, land in Austin and Houston, legal difficulties or accidents. Also, for any public/political positions the company has taken, or that public figures have taken towards the company. He's starting to have an idea that the thing that ties a lot of this together is a suspicious run bad luck striking the Wells Fargo company. Could someone be working overtime to keep this bad luck going? He's remembering the old saying, Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action.

While at dinner, and then over coffee, he'll try to pay attention to any conversations that might touch on those same topics. He might join in one, if it's nearby and loud enough, but he's not going to look for people to interrogate.

Random Observation roll. Observation target 15 [1d20]=6

[cybersavant]

Andreas Larson will grab a quick supper, a bath and then go to his room so he can rise early for the job.

[ateno]

Doos will also do the same. With the idea to help with the horse ans weapon sale in the am.

Doos

[Rex]

Charlie

Charlie also gets a good meal, cleans up and a good nights rest in so he is ready for the morning.

[jemmus]

The Drover Hotel on Front Street is literally just around the corner from the Well Fargo office on Main Street.

viewtopic.php?p=663772#p663772

And the Drover's stable is just across another street from it. Sierra Street-- as if anybody could call the hills and trees and scrub around Austin anything like a "sierra." The assistant groom looks over the men's many horses and evaluates the number of stalls available.
They might have to double up. Well, ah mean they will have to double up. Ah'll sort it out. Ah got a good eye fer who can git along with each other and who cain't. Y'all staying at Drover's, ya say? They ain't gonna allow them smelly dogs in thar. Tell ya what, h can put em up out back with rope through their collars. They don't nip at horses and bark all night, do they? If any of em does that, ah'll have to cut em loose and let run fer what they're after. 10 cents a night, and 10 cents more fer their chow. Unless ya want ta come back and feed em yerself. It'll be good stuff. Yesterday from the cafe. Ah'll catch it before the slop wagon fella comes around pickin up ta sell to the hog farmers.

The riders check into the Drover after a long day. Camping out with buzzing ear mosquitoes and unoticed crawling chigger mites by the creek all night. Confronting the Wells Fargo stage and its outrider man and turning it back to Austin and escorting it. Exhausting discussions about money, rights and fairness with Fox and Holtzclaw. It seems to all that Fox is a fair man, Holtzclaw too. They just have a set way of thinking. Company men.

The men check into the Drover and when it's Charlie's time to sign the guest register and pay for the night, the desk clerk says, Sir, you don't owe anything. Another guest has paid for the night.

The dining room in the Drover is quiet for a Saturday night in Austin. Two couples who seem like family-- maybe two brothers married to two sisters, catch up, laugh and talk nonstop. At an adjoining table kids who might be cousins excitedly duel at slapjack.

After dinner with his tired friends, William reads the Austin Statesman before heading to his room and bed. It's full of snippets of news stories from nation and worldwide, but these he notes.
-Virginia Bank Shutters Another bank, the Dominion Bank of Virginia, has shut its doors. Depositors' demand for withdrawals exceed the bank's liquid cash on hand.
King Fisher in Texas Unrepentant John King Fisher claims to, at the head of posse of vigilante ranchers, townsmen and cowhand, killed notorious leader of bandidos Hector Jose de la Garza Sanctos Jones III. "When asked to present the body for photography and sharing with readers of this paper," Fisher stated, "He's either breathing or he ain't breating. There's no in between, I don't believe. The rascal was shot five times through the arm, the leg and three times through the breast. If he shows up again still breathing, then we'll just have to put a stop to that."
James & Younger Gang Boldly Claim Train Robbery Outside of Adair, Iowa. The engine derailed and was wrecked, and the engineer killed in the incident.
Indian Wars Whilst protecting a railroad survey party in Montana, US 7th Cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, clashed for the 1st time with the Sioux near the Tongue River. 1 man killed on each side.

The riders in their rooms sit down, pull off their dusty boots and lie down to sleep. Tomorrow is another day. They think about the long day. Fox of Wells Fargo worried and walking around... Tomorrow's work in Austin, selling horses and guns... No, tomorrow is Sunday.... Target, Dog, Rhett, Yeller, Big Chief tied up outside a stable in a strange place outside a stable in strange Austin... DT's red-painted, splendid eagle feather-lined Comanche lance-- left as a gruesome and gory display....

And to some few, a dream of some Harvey Adler striding around and smiling as sheriff Comaltown/Comal County or greater judge of Comaltown/Comal County, smiling. set, and victorious.

PCs' actions noted, no further actions needed for this long today.
Average hotel - $.75 per night
Decent meal - $.35 for tonight's supper
Stabling a horse - $.25 per day (12 total horses, including the captured/led ones)
Kenneling a dog - $.20 per day
Newspaper - $.05 per day

Total $1.60 per person for tonight. Dog owners and newspaper buyers, please pay your extra. Tomorrow (Sunday) the cost for hotel, meals, stabling and kenneling will be $2.25 each.
Tomorrow (Sunday) and thereafter will be $2.30/day with three decent meals per day. Kenneling dogs and buying newspapers are not included. Another variable is whether Andreas takes his Fair horse with him to the construction site instead of leaving it to be sold with the rest. If he does, the stabling cost obviously decreases.

[Thumper]

DT spends the rest of the evening sitting in the light of a hotel lantern reading his book entitled “Handbook of Business- Complete Guide”. Specifically reading the chapters on negotiation types and techniques.

In the morning, he’ll bathe, then seek out a church in which to attend services…Catholic or Protestant, no matter to him. Just wanting to pay his respects to the Lord. He’s open to meeting locals.

He’ll get Yeller and walk him around town on a leash looking for a possibility to sell some of their guns or horses and a place to buy a a proper collar and leash (not expecting much to be open on a Sunday). When asked by people that he meets around town what his business is, he’ll mention he is both a medical doctor and has horses and firearms to sell…where it makes sense. Perhaps he can make acquaintances and discover opportunities for person to person sales.

He’ll also try to hunt up the Rangers he previously helped treat.

Trying to stay to the shade and take a day of rest.

In the evening, he’ll see if Gidean is going to play cards. In which case, DT will tag along as an observer from an adjacent table and observe the discussion and steer it toward the June 7th robbery.

“I heard tell that the McLaury/Shepherd gang confessed to all those robberies before they hsnged. Except they went to the noose denying that they had anything to do with that last one. Ya know, I passed by the robbery site coming from Fredricksburg. There was a card hung prominently in a tree. A Queen of Hearts. Now what or who would that be?” He’ll buy beer or strong drink for anyone exhibiting an interest in that talk.

[Rex]

Charlie

"May I inquire who paid for my room?"

Sheet updated for cost of the dog.

[jemmus]

Sorry for the delay in posting. I've had a temporary disruption to my routine for spending my free time.

DT goes to the Rangers office and finds Frank Denton holding down the fort with another Ranger he hasn't met before. Denton sits at a desk with a sign on it reading Sergeant Frank C. Denton. He looks well and heeled up, though as sunburnt as a three weeks out cattle drive cowpuncher. Denton recognizes DT and stands up to shake his hand. Good to see ya again, Dr. Crocket. It's my job to remember faces and names, but I can't credit my memory for rememberin your name. I was a little under the weather at the time, and my recollections of it aren't very clear. And a couple of things have happened in the intervenin time. I recall the name because you all were reported to have cleared out that Shepherd Brothers-McLaury gang of rustlers and stage robber operatin on the Burnet and Fredericksburg highways. That was high on the Rangers list of things to do next-- but it seems that addin new things to the list can prevent gettin any old ones off the top of it.

Are ya comin from Fredericksburg? I hear one of y'all got shot up pretty good in a gunfight with the criminals, and y'all were healin up there. Is the man alright? And how was your ride to Austin? Everything peaceful and orderly along the highway?

Gideon says, It ain't like me ta turn down a Saturday night of cards in Austin, Dr. DT. But ah'll jist turn in early tonight. The gambler's face registers a range of moving thoughts and emotions. About the cheerful and spunky waitress girl Inga back in Fredericksburg? The sight of the stripped and skewered body of the man in the roadway, and the knowledge of the plight and probable fate of his young wife? Which might be ongoing and evolving still. His brother, the son of their mother, who he grew up with, hung in the dim shade inside the little Gillespie County jail in Fredericksburg, Texas?

The night passes quietly in the Drover, as does Sunday in Austin. Stores are closed, and DT encounters no one interested in buying firearms or horses. In the evening he and Gideon go to the nearby Silver Dollar saloon for some cards. There are only a few men, and they’re playing faro.

Gideon says, Ah know some a these men. Played cards with em last time we was in Austin. Pretty good cards players. Gideon casually introduces the topic of the last stage robbery on the Fredericksburg highway. A player says, Sam Bass confessed to doin that, didn’t he? Another player answers, Sam Bass is a glory hound. He took credit for a bunch of stuff that he didn’t do. Couldn’t have. He’d have to be in two places at once, or cover a hundred miles in two hours. Another says, It was Phineas McLaury and the Shepherd boys, just like the other robberies. They hornswoggled that kraut-eatin judge in Fredericksburg to get a lighter sentence. The last says, It don’t seem to me that Phineas McLaury’s sentence was very much lighter. He looks at Gideon. Say, your name’s McLaury, ain’t it? Any kin to that Phineas.

Gideon is quiet for a second. Then replies, Yeah. He was older brother. A real mean cuss. His whole life. The men look at him surprised and study him for a while. They seem to have a mixture of fear, suspicion and admiration for this man at the faro table. But they seems to socially keep their distance from him, treating him not as an equal fellow card player but as a stranger and an outsider. One man keeps looking up at him, studying him, almost staring at him. Gideon says, Fella, ah ain’t no nekkid lady picture fer ya ta stare at. Ah’d appreciate it ya’d keep yer eyes in yer head and play cards. The man says, You don’t talk to me that way, fella. Nobody does. Especially not some bastard who’s family to a crazy bloodthirsty robbin murderer. Gideon’s reply is slow-- and icy. They say an apple don’t fall far from the tree. And Phineas and me fell from the same one. You keep flappin yer gums, fella, and ya might git more than ya thought ya was askin for. Such as a trip to the hospital… er somewhar. So jist pipe down, little fella, and play cards. The table is silent and the dealer pauses in the midst of dealing the next card. Everybody’s waiting for the man’s reply. His face is flushed, his jaw is tensed, and his breathing has become fast and shallow. He’s enraged, and at the same time feeling the pressure of having to act or back down before his peers in humiliation and shame.

Dog collar - $.25
Leash - $.30
Please keep in mind there's another $1.50/day to pay for stabling the captured horses. Six horses divided by six characters = another $.25 each per night.

I moved forward before anyone answered Charlie's question about who paid for his room. Feel free to rewind to do that. If nobody answers, Charlie can make an Observation roll to try to pick up on any clues.

Anyone can also join DT in the visit to the Rangers' office, him and Gideon at the Silver Dollar Saloon, or in hoping to meet someone interested in buying firearms or horses. For the last, please roll on Luck.